Law Enforcement, Courts And The Role Of Citizens

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An understanding of the Civics and Citizenship concepts is developed through a focus on Australia’s democracy and legal system. The teaching ideas in this resource assist students to gain knowledge and understanding of rights and responsibilities of being a participant in the legal system and how it provides justice for all. Links to curriculum code: ACHCK050 / VCCCL022

An understanding of the Civics and Citizenship concepts is developed through a focus on Australia’s laws, the responsibilities and freedoms of citizens and participation in the democratic process. The teaching ideas in this resource assist students to gain knowledge and understanding of how the role of citizens within the Westminster system ensures that our democratic values are protected. Links to curriculum code: ACHCK062 / VCCCG020

An understanding of the Civics and Citizenship concepts is developed through a focus on how Australia’s legal system works to support a democratic and just society. The teaching ideas in this resource assist students to gain knowledge and understanding of a key principle of Australia’s justice system, that of equity before the law. Links to curriculum codes: ACHCK077 / VCCCL033 & ACHCK078 VCCCL034

An understanding of the Civics and Citizenship concepts is developed through a focus on Australia’s global roles and responsibilities and the values and practices that enable a resilient democracy to be sustained. The teaching ideas in this resource assist students to gain knowledge and understanding regarding the safeguards that protect Australia’s democratic system and society. Links to curriculum code: ACHCK094 / VCCCC036

Learning Intentions

Resource Focus

Students understand that citizens have a role to play in supporting law enforcement and ensuring that the justice system is fair and equitable.

Students Understand:

How the role of policing has evolved over time
That the role of law enforcement varies between countries
That citizens’ have an important role in supporting law enforcement
That in Australia an arrested person retains their rights as a citizen
That citizens’ play an important part in supporting our democratic values through their roles in law enforcement and the court system

Lesson Ideas

Policing In Australia Today Policing In Australian States & Territories The Role Of Citizens In Law Enforcement The Court System In Australia The Role Of Citizens In The Court System

Further Student Enquiry

Students can compare and contrast the role of the police in Australia and another
Students can investigate several issues related to youth and the law.
For student court visits, scripted court scenarios and other legal and civic teaching resources visit either the Frances Burt Law Education Program or The Victoria Law Foundation

Assessment

Formative:

Ask students to explore the history of their state or territory police force using this link and use an app such as Sutori to create a chronological timeline showing significant dates in their police force history. Students then explore the following state or territory police historical society/museum websites to conduct additional research and complete the following activity as a class.
For each event/change, students pose an explanation as to why it was introduced (discuss students’ ideas). Students add each event/change to their timeline and conduct a group sharing of completed timelines. Students use this information to answer the question: Why has the way the police operate changed over time?
Using the HASS inquiry process students research the following question: How do the police achieve their strategic intentions? Students should provide explanations for each piece of evidence they use.
Conduct a class debate on the positive and negative aspects of the provision of citizens’ arrest using the Debating Structure, found on the Debating South Australia website, The Debaters Association of Victoria website and the Debate Rubric.
Students complete the worksheet Who are you going to contact?
Students watch the video A Fair Trial or One Punch, a Lifetime of Consequences. Students make notes on how the process is made as fair as possible for both jurors and the accused.

Summative

Students devise a poster/pamphlet, to be given to new migrants on their arrival, explaining the role of the police in Australia today (students should consider the appropriateness of the design for a multi-ethnic audience).
Using the HASS inquiry process, students research the following question: How do the police achieve their mission statement? Students should provide explanations for each piece of evidence they use.
Students answer the question: Australia’s law enforcement and justice system are improved through active citizenship.
Students investigate the rights of an arrested citizen.
Students investigate the processes in place that encourage citizens to use Crime Stoppers for reporting crimes.
Students compare and contrast the Crime Stoppers program in Australia with its counterpart in another country.